153 
time, nothing could have occurred, that would cause any intermix. 
ture of foreign laws with our native Institutes, except so far as they 
might have been influenced by the introduction of Christianity. 
Upon that occasion, shortly after the arrival of St. Patrick, when 
the Christian religion had become, in a great degree, the religion of 
the State, we find that the ancient laws underwent a thorough re- 
visal by a committee of nine persons, specially appointed for that 
purpose. This commitiee consisted of three Kings, three Bishops, 
and three Antiquariess The Kings were Laoghaire (Laya-rey), 
Monarch of Ireland, Corc, King of Cashel, and Daire, King of 
Conaught. The Bishops were St. Patrick, St. Beinin, and St. Cair- 
neach ; and the Antiquaries were Ross, Dubthtach (Duvhagh), and 
Fergus. Of this committee there were eight natives, and only 
one foreigner; of course it may be presumed, that, in the first 
instance, no great innovation was made on the ancient customs or 
habits of the people, except so far as might be necessarily introduced 
by the change from Paganism to Christianity. In progress of time, 
some portion of the Canon law might have found admittance into 
the common law of the country ; but it is pretty certain, that no ma- 
terial change was affected by the admixture. 
That the Breithemhuin (Bree-hoo-in) or judges of the Irish 
were well skilled in the Canon law no doubt can be entertained . 
but this might have happened without the native laws having suf- 
fered any alteration. Hannibal Rosselli, a Calabrian author, 
quoted by General Vallancy, * bears the following testimony to 
the skill of the ancient Irish in the Canon law. “ Olim homines 
“ illius Regionis plurimum intendebant Juri Pontificio, erantque op- 
** timi Canoniste.” < Formerly the inhabitants of this country ap- 
v2 
* Collectan. de Reb. Hib. Vol. III. p. xiv. 
